Research Methods question:

A local nonprofit is conducting the ABC Gang Intervention Program. Research indicates that 70% of gang members who are released from prison will re-offend (commit another crime – also known as recidivism) with two years of release. The ABC Program serves gang members who were in prison for one or more gang-related crimes. The program is intended to decrease the number of gang members who re-offend by offering job training classes, anger management classes, parenting classes and tattoo removal programs.

Develop a program evaluation to determine if the program is effectively reducing gang member recidivism by addressing the following sections:

1. State the research question
2. Identify and define the variables
Define at least one dependent and several independent variables. For each variable provide a title, categories (if applicable) operationalized definitions, and determine if the variable (as you have defined it) is nominal, ordinal, or interval-ratio.
3. Discuss the research design you would propose to use for the program evaluation
Note the strengths and weakness of the design
4. Discuss any sampling techniques you may use in the evaluation
5. What methods would you use in the evaluation
6. What are you proposed timelines for your data collection
7. Address any issues related to reliability and validity (both internal and external)
8. Address the number of people you’ll need for the evaluation process (staffing), any supplies or equipment you may need, and how much money (rough estimates) it may cost to conduct the evaluation
Policy making question:

As we all know, the development and implementation of public policy impacts every aspect of public administration. Consider a scenario where your city has recently experienced an increase in drunk driving accidents.

Explore the concept of federalism (discussing which levels of governments are responsible for various societal problems), the separation of powers (discussing how laws are made and implemented), and the role of interest groups in setting the policy agenda.

Describe a variety of public policy theories that may guide the creation of the policy development (consider theories such as Elite Theory, Group Theory, etc). Explain how you would analyze the problem, and review a variety of policy instruments that could be used to impact the problem (such as authority tools, incentives, etc).

Describe the types of assessments tools available to evaluate the policy (such as effectiveness, liberty and freedom, administrative feasibility, etc.), and how the implementation process and budgets may impact specific departments.

Law Question:

Discuss the aspects of American government that provide for the legitimacy of federal laws and regulations, and briefly review the separation of powers as well as issues related to states’ rights. Discuss the impact of federal regulations on the average person in the United States. In doing so, discuss an agency, a proposed (hypothetical) rule, the process of making the proposed rule final, and how that rule may affect one individual.